Torque and twist against superlubricity

Phys Rev Lett. 2008 Feb 1;100(4):046102. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.100.046102. Epub 2008 Jan 29.

Abstract

Superlubricity between incommensurate surfaces provides a desired low-friction state essential for the function of small-scale machines. Here we demonstrate experimentally and theoretically that superlubricity in contacts lubricated by lamellar solids might be eliminated due to torque-induced reorientation coupled to lateral motion. We find that the possibility of reorientation always leads to stabilization of a high frictional state which corresponds to a commensurate configuration.